DENR team discovers rare vine in Cagayan forest

TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan — A rare and endemic plant species known as JC’s vine, a striking wild climber also called purple jade vine or dragon’s spine, was discovered during a recent two-week habitat monitoring activity at Mt. Hamut in Peñablanca, Cagayan.

The JC’s vine (𝘚𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘺𝘭𝘰𝘥𝘰𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘻𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘻𝘪𝘪) is a critically endangered woody liana distinguished by dense clusters of claw-shaped flowers that shift in color from pale lilac to vivid electric violet.

It was documented by the Philippine Eagle Watch Team, composed of personnel from the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) Cagayan, the PENR Sub-Office, and the Protected Area Management Office of the Peñablanca Protected Landscape and Seascape.

READ: Rare Jade Vine spotted in Quezon protected landscape

The team was conducting monitoring activities primarily to locate the Philippine Eagle, which has previously been sighted in the protected forest, but instead recorded the rare plant species.

The vine was named in honor of Dr. Juan Carlos Gonzales, a zoologist from the University of the Philippines, who helped highlight the importance of the species.

Although no eagle was sighted during the expedition, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Cagayan Valley said the documentation of endemic flora such as JC’s vine is still considered a significant achievement.

The agency said the discovery underscores the continued ecological richness of Mt. Hamut, which remains home to diverse wildlife and plant species, including threatened fauna such as the Philippine Eagle. INQ